Man, woman found slain near Fort Bragg

October 18, 2013, 8:24PM

10/18/2013

Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies reported finding the bodies of a man and a woman while investigating a report of a suspicious vehicle parked off Highway 20 east of Fort Bragg.

The bodies were found in a minivan Thursday afternoon but the discovery was not announced for about 24 hours. Very few details were released Friday.

The pair appeared to have suffered head wounds, according to Sheriff's authorities, but it was not disclosed whether or not they had been shot.

An autopsy was pending, authorities said. The identities of the two were not released pending the identification of one and the notification of family members of the other. Both are believed to be from the Bay Area, said Sheriff's Sgt. Jason Caudillo.

The woman was found in the driver's seat and the man in the front passenger seat, the Sheriff's Office reported. The vehicle was parked off the road about 2.6 miles from Fort Bragg, Caudillo said. It was not readily visible from the highway.

No additional information was to be released Friday, Caudillo said. Anyone with information about the double homicide was asked to contact the Sheriff's tip line: (707) 234-2100.